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Before he became one of the best rookie pitchers in MLB history with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Paul Skenes helped lead LSU to a College World Series title. This weekend, he's returning to his old stomping grounds with his girlfriend, LSU gymnast Livvy Dunne, to be celebrity guest pickers on ESPN's College GameDay.
The couple will be this season's first pair of guest pickers on the show, which will take place in Baton Rouge ahead of Saturday's game between No. 14 LSU and No. 11 Alabama.
What's better than one national champion? How about two national champions? 🤩
— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) November 7, 2024
We're so excited to have @Paul_Skenes and @livvydunne as our guest pickers this weekend at LSU! 🐯 pic.twitter.com/gIa33GCOxG
Skenes won't be the only Pirates fan favorite to appear on TV this week, as Andrew McCutchen was also featured in a clue in Wednesday's episode of "Jeopardy!"
Under the "Catch 22" category, the clue read, "Longtime Pirates No. 22 Andrew McCutchen won a 2012 Gold Glove for catching and throwing in this widest ranging outfield position."
The question, of course, was, "What is center field?"
McCutchen, who is now almost exclusively a designated hitter, slashed .232/.328/.411 with 104 hits, 18 doubles, 20 home runs and 50 RBI in 120 games for the Pirates last season. Now a free agent at 38 years old, he has expressed his desire to return for his 12th season with the franchise in 2025.
Upon seeing that he was the subject of a "Jeopardy!" clue, McCutchen jokingly posted on X, "That settles it, I gotta play CF next year."
That settles it, I gotta play CF next year https://t.co/IvKNBf8uw8
— Andrew McCutchen (@TheCUTCH22) November 7, 2024
Pirates prospect Sammy Siani finishing 2024 on red hot note in Arizona Fall League
Outfield prospect Sammy Siani has followed up a breakout season across two levels of the Pirates' farm system with a scorching performance in the Arizona Fall League. Siani, the No. 37 overall pick in the 2019 MLB Draft, has recorded a hit in all but two of his 17 games for the Scottsdale Scorpions this fall, recently going 2-for-3 with his third home run of the fall Wednesday.
Siani, who is not even among the Pirates' top 30 prospects according to MLB Pipeline, earned a promotion to Double-A Altoona in 2024 after spending parts of three seasons in High-A Greensboro. He had a career year at the plate, slashing .265/.338/.400 across both levels.
Siani credits a change in his bat path for his recent offensive success. If he continues to produce at this pace next season and beyond, he could be a potential solution to Pittsburgh's outfield woes.
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